“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
We all need wisdom, and wisdom comes from God. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright” (Prov. 2:6-7). And James tells his brethren that prayer gives them a direct link to the One who is able and more than willing to provide them (us) with wisdom. Wisdom sharpens our discernment (Heb. 5:14). Wisdom helps us in making good decisions, the right decisions. The wisdom that comes generously from God helps us in navigating through the problems of life. Of course, all of us need the wisdom that God provides, and we need wisdom every single day.
- Elders need wisdom in overseeing and shepherding the flock of God among them (Acts 20:28).
- Gospel preachers need wisdom in discerning what teaching from God’s Word is most needful at a particular time (2 Tim. 4:1-2).
- Husbands and wives need wisdom in applying God’s truths to their marriage and in growing in their understanding of one another (Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
- Parents need wisdom in raising their children effectively at the various stages of a child’s life (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1-4).
- Young people need wisdom as they face the pressures and temptations of life (Eccl. 12:1; Psalm 119:9-11; 2 Tim. 2:22).
- Older saints need wisdom as they face the challenges and difficulties of advanced age (Eccl. 12:1-7).
- All Christians need wisdom as they live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation that they may shine as lights in this dark world (Phil. 2:14-16); and learn to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).
- We need the wisdom that comes from God in most effectively reaching the lost we encounter (Col. 4:2-6).
In God and in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). So, let every child of God seek out those treasures by letting “the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16), and by asking God in faith for the wisdom that He lovingly and graciously provides.